Cotton cultivator



y 1927' c. JONES COTTON CULTIVATOR Filed Dec. IL 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 UL U L 1 IE0. Wi i a w May 10, 1927.

C. JONES COTTON CULTIVATOR Filed Dec. 3, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllll Charlie Jones.

Patented May 10, 1927.

UNITED STATES CHARLIE JONES, OF WHITE FLA INS, NEW YORK.

COTTON CULTIVATOR.

Application filed December 3, 1925. Serial No. 73,007.

This invention relates to improvements in cultivators .and particularly to a cultivator of the rotary knife type, especially adaptable for use in the cultivation of cotton plants, whereby such plants, when small, may be thinned out in such a manner as to pro mote growth and production of the remaining plants,'the invention having for an object to provide a novel and efficient form or construction of cultivator blades which when adjusted to the proper height will, with rotation, clear spaces of vegetation at regular intervals, the knives during this operation remaining in contact with the soil and hence, preventing the transmission of detrimental shocks or stresses to the cultivator or the working parts thereof, such as are experienced in the type of cultivator employing rotary hoe-like blades whicl'i intermittently contact with the soil.

. It is another and equally important object of the invention to provide a cultivator of the character mentioned wherein an adjustable knife carrying or supporting frame is employed, said frame being adjustable by mechanical means in order that it may be raised or lowered with respect to the soil whereby to effect proper positioning of the cultivator blades in such soil and with respect to the plants.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a cotton cultivator which in addition to thinning out the small plants, will work or cultivate the soil subsequently to the thinning out operation, thereby promoting growth of the remaining plants, the inventionv to this end comprehending an adjustable frame carrying cultivator plows, which when desired, may be supported and retained in an inoperative position.

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood by persons skill-ed in the art, I have in the accompanying illustrative drawings. and in the detailed following description based thereupon, set out one possible en'il'iodin'ient of the same.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved cotton cultivator,

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal .section through the same,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the improved machine,

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 44 of Figure 3 looking in a direction in which the arrows point,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail in plan showing the manner in which the rows of small cotton plants are thinned out by the rotating blades, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail partly in section, showing the mode of engagement of the guide legs with the pivotally mounted cultivator blade supporting frame.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, in connection with which like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout, the improved cultivator may he stated to comprise a substantially rectangular frame indicated in its entirety herein by the numeral 1, said frame comprising longitudinally and transversely disposed angle bars interconnected at their meeting or adjoining ends, the forward end of said body having a transversely disposed bracing bar 2, arranged upon the same and rigidly connected to adjacent portions of the opposite side of said body. A secondary frame constructed of suitable material and indicated herein by the numeral 3 is received upon the rearward portion of the body 1, being rigidly secured thereto through suitable fastening devices. This frame 3 carries a standard l upon its rearward end to which an operators seat 5 is secured for an obvious purpose. A draft connection or pole 6 is provided upon the forward end of this body portion 1, the rearward or adjacent end of such connection or pole 6 being suitably secured to the intermediate portion of the forward end bar and bracing bar 2 of said body 1 in the manner as is indicated in the Figures 1 and 2. In this way, it will be understood that a suitable draft means may be connected to the cultivator machine and such machine then drawn over the surface or field to be cultivated.

Wheels T are provided the body portion 1, such wheels being mounted upon the extremities of a transversely disposed axle 8 secured to the under side and rearward portion of the body 1 in a manner as indicated in the Figure 2.

A forwardly disposed supporting frame 9 is carried by the body 1 and, as will be noted, this supporting frame consists of longitudi- Till fit)

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nallv and transversely disposed bars arrangijed above but in substantiz'tllv parallelism to the bars of the frame 1, a trai'isversely disposed bar it) being secured at its opposite end to the adjacent: inner sides oil the tin-ward portions ot the side bars of said supporting tranie t immediately above the braeiu bar Ll aforesaid This supporting l t-ante it is rigidly secured with respect to the body .1, the rearward ends thereol': resting; upon supports .1 t secured to tl e adjacent portion ot? the secondary .lll'ttlliO :5 while the t'orward portion o t such sut'iporting 'lranie 9 braced. with respect to the correspoinling portion olf the body l through the medium ol diagonally t'liaposed brace l are l:., having writable ctmnta-iions with. adjacent portions ol said frame 1) and said bod v It.

A pivotally mounted cultivator blade carr 'ine; and supporting lraine Ll is also provided the bod portion ol' the cultivator, this suptjiortin trante ill comprising interconnected longittulii'ially and transversely disposed angle bars, the rearward portions of which have vertically disposed hanger ttIttlS ll rigidly conne .:ted thereto, such arms in turn, being pivotall v mounted or received upon adjacent portions oi: the axle or in this way, it will be understood that the rearward portion ol the supporting lraine l -l will be pivolallg; supported with respect to the bod v l of the cultivator and to limit this pivotal movement: ol. said lfraine 13, as well as to prevent undesirable or objec tionable lateral movement (it the same, vertically dieposed guide legs iii are rigidly secured at their upper ends to the adjacent l'orward portions ol the body 1 in the man nor shown in the leig ure it, the lower ends ol these legs being enlzurgcd or headed as at it while their intermediate portions are passed through slots 1? formed in adjacent portituis ol? the opposite sides oil the pivotal supporting lraine 121i. lhus, it will be seen that: the ironic 1:5 will be limited in its pivotal movement; with ttSPtLl] to the body l and lilu wise, that undue late al movement thereo'lf upon its pivotal. mounting or at; the Forward end thereof will be prm'ented.

it cultivator blade t':il't':,l]i,t shalt It is disposed lon gitudinall ol' the intermediate portion oi' the frame l3, having); the opposite enda thcreol journaled in suitable bearings ll) secured to the end bars ol mid 'lranie 12:5, the rearward end ol? said shalt ltl being); extended tor a distance beyond the r arward end bar olf its supporting; frame and provided with a lixcdlv inountict'l pulley ill the purpose o'l which will be hcreinattcr more lolly described. lllounted l'or rotary inovenicnt upon. the intermediate portion ol the nha'l't tel are spider bracli't-at arms :ll. the em:- tremities ol which carry curved and oblique ly disposed cultivator blades 22, such blades being arranged in opposed relation as is l, at: a

clearly shown in the lligures 2 and 5, and adapted, with rotation, to clear spaces between snaall cotton plants in the fashion as indicated in the Figure 5, that is, the blades will engage and sever certain of the cotton plants in rows treated thereby, thus etiecting the soca.lled thinning out of such plants wherebv to promote and increase their growth and yield. In this connection, it will. be noted that the spaces cut or cleared between the small cotton plants 01? a row are diagonally disposed as is indicated by the numeral :31} in the Figure 5, this being because olthe spiral like arrtngenient of the cultivator blades :22 upon their support in brackets :31. Subsequently to the lowering;- or adjusting ol the cultivator blades 22 to the proper height? with respect,- to the soil and small cotton plants to be cultivated thereby, it will be appreciated that said blades will constantly remain in contact with the soil and with the plants, but because of: the curved formation thereof, they will only serve to cut clearance spaces between the small plants as is indicated in the Figure :3, thus bringing about: the desirable thinnine" out ot such plants. Because of this constant engagement; oi. the cultivator blades 23;? with the soil and with the small, cotton plants, it will be raider-stood that the transmission of detrimental shocks and stresses to the cultivator and the working parts thercot will be avoided, in that the appli ration ol' stress to the machine will be continuous and will not be of the sort which tecperienced in those types of Cultivators employing relatively spaced rotatable hoelilt'e blades. such blades during rotation, interniittent'l v engaging the soil and vegetation in process ol culti 'ation and hence, llli' parting shock or stress to the inaehii'ie at each and every such engagement.

With a view toward iroviding the cullivator with means for transniiltiiur rotary motion to the cultivator blade carrying shalt: l8. an intermediate driven shalt disposed ltllltlll udinally of one side of the frame l being: mounted in suitable hearings at the opposite ends thereol', while one end of the shall is extended and supplied with a lixedlv mounted pulley 25, about: which one end ol" an endless power transmitting" belt fill is cturan'ctl. the opposite end ol such belt: being eno ae'ed about the peripheral portion ol? the pullev no upon the cultivator blade carcving' shall 15%. ft beveled near it is litcdlv mounted upon the lot 'ard portion ol" this intermediate d rivcu shail't and meshes with a correspoinling gear 5% liacdly mount ed upon the adjacent end ot a lirausvernelv disposed driving shalt 529. which as will be noted. has one end tlnn'eo'l mounted in suita le hearings arranged. upon or provided a transversely disposed supporting: bar lit) carried in the lorwaol portion ol the support lltl lll

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ing frame 9 while the opposite end of said shaft is received in suitable hearings in an adjacent portion of the corresponding sides of said frame 9, the outer end of the shaft carrying a sprocketwheel 31 thereon, about which an endless sprocket chain 32-is engaged, the opposite end or rearward por tion of the same being disposed. about a sprocket wheel 33 fixedly mounted adjacent the inner side ofone of the cultivator supporting wheels 7 as is shown in the Figure 3. Thus, it will be seen that with movement of the wheeledcultivator over a field or other surface to be cultivated, motion will be transmitted from the sprocket wheel supplied wheel 7 to the chain 32 to the driving shaft 29 and from thence by way of the beveled gearing 27 and 28 to the longitudinally disposed intermediate driven shaft 2 L, from whence it will be transmitted by way of the belt. 96 to the cultivator blade carrying shaft 18. thereby effecting rotation of the cultivator blades 22 at the desired speed with which to effectually treat or cultivate or thin out the small plants in the rows engaged thereby.

To permit: of vertical adjustment of the cultivator blades 22 with respect to the soil or small cotton plants to be cultivated there by, a yoke-like connecting bracket generally indicated by the numeral 34 is provided, the extremities of the opposite sides of said bracket being suitably connected to lugs or similar devices upon the inner side of the forward portions of the frame 17, while the upper end of said bracket is formed with an extension 36 having pivotal connection with a longitudinally disposed operating lever 37 pivotally mounted upon a suitable supporting standard 38, carried on the frame 9 adjacent the rearward portion thereof as is shown in the Figures 1 and 2, such standard being provided with a fixed and toothed quadrant 39 adapted to be selectively engaged by a manually adjustable locking pawl 40, movably carried upon the outer portion of the lever 37 and adapted to be controlled by means of a hand grip device' 41 arranged adjacent the handle portion of said lever 37. In thisway, it will be understood that vertical adjusting movement may be imparted to the cultivator blade carrving frame 17 merely by rocking the lever Si" in the desired direction. subsequently to which. said lever may be locked in its adjusted position by engaging the pawl in or between the adjacent piece of the quad-c rant 39.

it. is desirable that the improved cultivator be provided with means other than the rotatable. blades 22 for cultivating the soil over which the machine passes and toward an accomplishment of this, I may'and preferably do equip the cultivator machine with a substantially V-shaped carrying frame 42,

pivoting the forward angular portion of said frame 42 as indicated at 43 to a connecting bracket 4st fixedly secured to the rearward and under side of the body portion 1; the angularly' opposed sides of this frame -12 carrying a plurality of cultivator shovels 45' by the extension of the shanks -16 thereof into engagement with suitable fastening means, not shown, upon'the frame 42. Thus, it will be understood that with the dragging of this pivotallymounted cultivator carrying frame 42 over the soil previously treated by the cultivator blades 22, additional cultivation thereof will be effected, and hence, the growth and yield of the cotton plants will be promoted. To permit the securing of the cultivator shovels 45 upon the carrying frame d2 in an inoperative position, at

times, a handle bar 4L7 is fixedly secured to one portion of said frame 42 and is braced with respect thereto, through the medium of a bar -18, the upper end of this handle bar 4:7 being so arranged as to be engaged with a spring latch-like member 19 fixedly mounted upon an ad acent portion of the body 1 as is shown in the Figures 1 and 3. Through this arrangement, it will be seen that with forward rocking movement of the handle bar 47, the cultivator carrying frame 42 will be raised to such an extent as to with draw or disengage the cultivators L5 from the soil being treated, whereupon the intermediate portion of the handle bar 47 will be engaged by the headed portion ofthe latch-member 49 and thereby, the bar $7 with the frame 42 will be secured in an inoperative position. To release the bar a7, it is only necessary to move the same laterally to such an extent as to disengage it from the headed end of the latch member. 49 whereupon the weight of the cultivator carrying frame 42 will be such as to immediately return the cultivator shovels 45 into engagement with the soil. Thus, an effectual form of drag cultivator is afforded the inyention.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable modification, and such modification as is within the scope of my claims, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim: r

1. In a cotton cultivator, a pair of wheels, an axle connecting said wheels, a main frame mounted on said axle, a drive shaft journalled in said main frame, driving means connecting said shaft with one of the wheels, a cutter frame pivotally mounted on said axle, a cutter shaft snpported solely by said cutter frame, means arranged in proximity to said axle and cooperating with said drive iii shaft to rotate said cutter shaft, cutter taclnnent to the second "frame to otTec-t vertioal adjustment thereof.

A. cotton cultivator comprising in 00111- hinntiom :1 Wheel structure including 1111 11x10, :1 main 111111111 1110111111111 on 511M 11x10, :1 slul't't journziiloil in said frame 1111111113 to drive $11111 shaft, 11 soc-0111i frnnio pirotulty mouutmi on said :lxio, a cutter shaft supported solely by mitt second ti-111110, moans arranged in proximity to said axle and (:0- operating with the first shaft to etfect rotrv tion of said cutter shaft, cutter blades mounted on said cutter shaft 111111 means to oti'ort rorticnl 111lj11st111e11t of $21M second 11'111110 11nd cutters.

In witness whereof I. 1111111 1111111111110 set my 1111,1111.

CI-IARI'JIE J ON ES. 

